The Organ,
which is placed above the screen, dividing the nave from the choir, is a very fine toned instrument, and was built in 1809, by the late Mr. Allen, of Sutton Street, Soho. It has within the last few years been much improved and enlarged. It contains forty-eight stops, viz.:—twelve in the great organ, twelve in the swell, ten in the choir, eight in the pedal organ, and six couplers. These improvements were made by H. P. Gates, Esq., of the Vineyard, and are commemorated by a brass plate on the south side of the organ, inscribed as follows: "To the praise and glory of God and memory of John and Frances Gates, this organ was re-built and enlarged at the charge of Henry Pearson Gates, their son, Anno Domini 1871." The case of the instrument, which is of carved oak, presents towards the nave, a front in the early English style, while on the side looking into the choir, the fronts are decorated, to harmonize with the interior fittings.
The Choir.
As we enter the choir, the bishop's throne, with the stalls, pulpit, pews, and altar screen burst upon us, all of which are beautifully carved. The altar screen is composed of a soft white stone, found near Cambridge; the rest that we have mentioned, is oak, very finely carved in the decorated style of architecture. The bishop's throne especially, with its ogee canopies, and elegant and almost fairy-like spire, rivets the eye of the spectator. The coup d'œil of the choir is so strikingly beautiful, from the good arrangement and entire keeping of the whole, that it can scarcely be surpassed.
At the east end, immediately under the large window, are three tablets with the names of all the Abbots, Bishops, and Deans from the foundation of the monastery to the present time, of which the following is a copy:—
List of the Abbots of the Cathedral,
With the date of their appointment.
| Saxulphus | 654 | Acharius | 1200 | |
| Cuthbaldus | 673 | Robert of Lindsay | 1214 | |
| Egbaldus | Alexander | 1222 | ||
| Pusa | Martin of Ramsey | 1226 | ||
| Beonna | Walter St. Edmonds | 1233 | ||
| Celredus | William Hotot | 1246 | ||
| Hedda | 833 | Iohn de Caleto | 1249 | |
| Adulphus | 972 | Robert Sutton | 1262 | |
| Kenulphus | 992 | Richard of London | 1274 | |
| Elsinus | 1005 | William of Woodford | 1295 | |
| Arwinus | 1055 | Godfrey of Croyland | 1299 | |
| Leofricus | 1063 | Adam Boothby | 1321 | |
| Brando | 1066 | Henry Morcot | 1338 | |
| Thoroldus | 1069 | Robert Ramsey | 1346 | |
| Godricus | 1098 | Henry of Overton | 1361 | |
| Matthias | 1103 | Nicholaus | 1391 | |
| Ernulpus | 1107 | Willielmus Genge | 1396 | |
| Iohn of Salisbury | 1114 | Johannes Deeping | 1408 | |
| Henricus de Angeli | 1128 | Richard Ashton | 1438 | |
| Martinus de Vecti | 1133 | William Ramsey | 1471 | |
| William de Waterville | 1155 | Robert Kirton | 1496 | |
| Benedictus | 1177 | Iohn Chambers | 1528 | |
| Andreas | 1194 |
Iohn Chambers was the last Abbot and the first Bishop.
List of the Bishops of Peterborough,
With the date of their appointment.
| Iohn Chambers, b.d. | 1541 | Richard Cumberland, d.d. | 1691 | |
| David Pool, ll.d. | 1556 | White Kennet, d.d. | 1718 | |
| Edmund Scambler, d.d. | 1560 | Robert Clavering, d.d. | 1728 | |
| Richard Howland, d.d. | 1584 | Iohn Thomas, d.d. | 1747 | |
| Thomas Dove, a.m. | 1600 | Richard Terrick, d.d. | 1757 | |
| William Pierse, d.d. | 1630 | Robert Lamb, ll.d. | 1764 | |
| Augustine Lindsel, d.d. | 1632 | Iohn Hinchliffe, d.d. | 1769 | |
| Francis Dee, d.d. | 1634 | Spencer Madan, d.d. | 1794 | |
| Iohn Towers, d.d. | 1638 | John Parsons, d.d. | 1813 | |
| Benjamin Lany, d.d. | 1660 | Herbert Marsh, d.d. | 1819 | |
| Joseph Henshaw, d.d. | 1663 | George Davys, d.d. | 1839 | |
| William Loyd, d.d. | 1679 | Francis Jeune, d.c.l. | 1864 | |
| Thomas White, d.d. | 1685 | William Connor Magee, d.d. | 1868 |